This website uses cookies primarily for visitor analytics. Certain pages will ask you to fill in contact details to receive additional information. On these pages you have the option of having the site log your details for future visits. Indicating you want the site to remember your details will place a cookie on your device. To view our full cookie policy, please click here. You can also view it at any time by going to our Contact Us page.

Parents failing to help their children with basic 'science'

04 November 2015

British parents are failing to answer some of their children’s most basic school-level ‘science’ questions, according to a new study from the IET.

The research, conducted by the Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET) to celebrate Tomorrow’s Engineers Week, has found that 83 percent of UK mums and dads have been unable to answer questions from their kids about science, technology, engineering or maths (STEM) subjects.

In fact, it has emerged that parents of children between the ages of four and 12 are suffering from real embarrassment and resorting to telling their children white lies. When it comes to answering their tricky questions about STEM, almost two thirds (63 percent) of parents said that they have given their inquisitive child an incorrect answer instead of admitting that they don’t know the answer. In addition, a similar number (61 percent) actually fear being asked a difficult question by their child – resulting in them avoiding giving answers, which could be having a detrimental impact on their child’s education.

According to the research, more than one in ten (12 percent) of those who have faced simple scientific questions that they can’t answer, simply pass the buck to the other parent – telling their child to ask their mum or dad instead. What’s more, 59 percent of parents admitted that their child knows more than they do about technical subjects like engineering and technology.

From North to South, British parents have all experienced reluctance when it comes to their children’s questions, though some more than others. Despite being the UK’s capital, London’s parents are in fact the least informed about scientific subjects, with nearly all (93 percent) admitting they’ve been asked a question by their child related to STEM that they haven’t known the answer to. Britain’s brightest sparks, by contrast, live in Nottingham where only 72 percent of parents – significantly lower than the rest of the population – have had uncertainties.

As a result, the IET has set up its #AskTheEngineers initiative for parents to put their children’s questions to a panel of engineering experts. The #AskTheEngineers initiative is being held in partnership with Mumsnet as part of the IET’s wider Engineer a Better World campaign.

“We commissioned this research to celebrate Tomorrow’s Engineers Week," says IET president, Naomi Climer. "The findings have given us some interesting insight into how poorly equipped UK parents are when it comes to tackling their child’s often tricky questions relating to STEM subjects. That’s why we’re holding our very first #AskTheEngineers live Twitter Q&A with Mumsnet, giving parents the answers they need – and, at the same time, helping them to inspire and nurture their child’s interest in STEM subjects.

“The IET’s #AskTheEngineers initiative is part of wider campaign called Engineer a Better World, which was launched earlier this year. The campaign is all about encouraging more young people – particularly girls – to consider engineering as a potential career option in the future. By engaging with parents and children through the campaign, we hope we can build the engineering workforce of the future – enabling the UK to remain a world leader in engineering and technology.”